Photographer: Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool
Latvian Pavels Petkuns on Saturday snatched victory at the Red Bull Art of Motion on the island of Santorini (GRE). 21 of the world’s best freerunning athletes turned the ancient volcanic isle to the young sport’s most urban parcour in front of 2,500 frantic fans.
Sweden’s Marcus Gustafsson and German Jason Paul grabbed the other two podium spots.
FIROSTEFANI (Greece) – It was always going to be about fun, elegance, risk and efficiency when Latvian Pavels Petkuns delivered a world-class performance above the white-washed stone roofs of Firostefani to impress the four-member jury and win the most prestigous freerunning and parcours competition on the planet.
“This rocky cliff is any traceur’s dream,” a beaming Petkuns said, after giving himself the best present for his 20th birthday.“ Normally it is the urban jungle where we show our flic-flacs, turns and screws and we really have to go looking for a perfect place to do them. Here you arrive and you can just set off.”
It was a 260-metre long course that went over roofs, church cupolas, terraces and swimming pools with an overall drop of 70 metres for a time of just under two minutes. The top eight finishers in the qualifying round booked their spot in the final and straight into the hearts of fans with a final jump into a swimming pool.
FINAL RESULT 2012: 1. Pavels Petkuns (LAT), 2. Marcus Gustafsson (SWE), 3. Jason Paul (GER), 4. Yoann Leroux (FRA), 5. Luis Alkim (POR), 6. Alexander Zyulev (RUS), 7. Luci Romberg (USA), 8. Ryan Doyle (GBR)
